Michael Kightly is back in contention after he returned to full training earlier this week following a hamstring strain picked up against Bury.

Kightly is joined by fellow midfielder Anthony Wordsworth in returning to fitness after he played an hour of the U23s game against Millwall in midweek, having shaken off a calf injury.

Defender John White continues his recovery from an ankle injury picked up last month against Peterborough, with fellow long-term absentees Rob Kiernan and Ted Smith still sidelined.

Walsall’s squad appeared to have come through their midweek trip to Peterborough unscathed, but they’ll certainly be without vice-captain Joe Edwards.

The midfielder missed the trip to the ABAX Stadium and had now been ruled out for the rest of the season after finding he’d injured his anterior cruciate ligament against Blackburn Rovers.

Chris Powell, Southend United Manager:

“We had them watched on Tuesday; Kevin Keen and Roger Cross watched went to their game at Peterborough so we’re doing all the right things and we’ve got to make sure we nullify anything that we’ve seen that is a strength of theirs.

“But more importantly we’ve got to carry on in the same vain and manner that we have.

“We’ve been very aggressive with and without the ball, we’ve been high energy and teams haven’t handled that.

“We’ve got to keep that going and ask questions of Walsall. We’re a good side when we do that as we’ve shown recently in the games at home and away.”

Jon Whitney, Walsall Manager:

“We’ve got 12 games left to make a statement, starting on Saturday at Southend.

“We have an opportunity now. We’ve got a mini season of 12 games and we are going to try to win every game.

“I understand that’s unlikely to happen, but we will head into every game believing we’ve got a chance of winning.”